Global LCD TV Shipments Recover in Third Quarter

November 25, 2009

Worldwide HD/DTV shipments of all TV sets showed some subtle signs of growth in the third quarter amid the current recession, as total-unit volume bumped upward on a year-over-year basis for the first time in a year, according to DisplaySearch, an industry consultant based in Austin, Texas.

However, overall DTV third-quarter growth was a mere 1 percent (just under 55 million units).

LCD sets (mostly 1080p and 720p) experienced relatively strong growth in the past 12 months—further establishing itself as the leading DTV technology on a units-sold basis—but until the third quarter the growth of LCD sets was not offsetting the rapid decline in shipments of CRT sets.

LCD TV shipments increased globally by about 38 percent over the past year (exceeding DisplaySearch's original expectations), climbing to a record 37.5 million units. Government stimulus programs in China and Japan, as well as continued high levels of price erosion, contributed to the shipment growth for LCD sets in every region except Eastern Europe. Based on the positive signs of the third quarter, DisplaySearch said it now expects total LCD TV shipments for calendar year 2009 to reach 140 million units globally.

Total TV revenues, however, were down for the fourth straight quarter, dropping 10 percent to just over $26 billion.